Language is power.

When you give an adult the gift of learning language, that power ripples through the community—uplifting the individual, energizing families, igniting the spirit of a neighborhood.

That’s what we do at Literacy DuPage, and we want you to join us. Become a tutor, or share your time with our cause in some other way. It’s sure to be one of the most rewarding endeavors of your life.

You’re just three steps from a life-changing volunteer opportunity.

Step 1. Register for volunteer orientation in person at our office or by emailing us at info@literacydupage.org. A staff person will respond and schedule a phone orientation for you. You’ll learn more about Literacy DuPage and receive a training registration packet.

Step 2. Reserve your spot in our training program by completing and returning your registration packet (including background check form), along with $40 to help defray the cost of training materials. We conduct training regularly and throughout the county, so you can choose the training series that’s most convenient for you. The full, 18-hour training program is a time commitment, but this instruction will give you all the tools and information you need to support a learner. You’ll be in a cohort of other beginning tutors—just like you.

Step 3. Meet your adult learner. Part-way through your training experience, you’ll be matched with a learner, so you can start making a difference right away.

Beyond tutoring, here are other ways you can get involved with Literacy DuPage:

Interested? See something we’ve missed? Contact us to offer your time and talent to Literacy DuPage.

Commonly asked questions about tutoring:

A: Mostly, you need time and heart. You don’t need to speak a second language, and you don’t need experience as a teacher or tutor (though active and retired educators do make great tutors!). Specifically, here’s what it takes to be a Literacy DuPage tutor:

Be at least 21 years old with a high school diploma or equivalent.

Demonstrate the ability to speak, read, write and understand English well enough to communicate clearly at a native or near-native proficiency.

Be sensitive to the issues of literacy, the adult learner, and other cultures.

Be patient, dependable, friendly, optimistic, and open to learning new things.

Be interested in helping others, respectful of confidentiality, and able to communicate with compassion.

Have a sense of humor and enthusiasm for empowering adults through literacy.